Vehicle-wheel.



m'sszoso.

' Patented Nov. 14, I899, A. L. PBUlT-T.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

(Application filed Mar. 11, 1898, Renewed Oct. 21. 1899.)

(No Model.)

0 WASHINGTON n c No. 537,030. Patented Nov.'|4, 1899.

' A. L. PRUITT.

VEHICLE WHEEL;

(Application filed Mar. 11, 1898. Rsziowed Oct. 21, 1899.) v (No Model.) 2 Sheets-$heet 2,

'55 W J! v 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW L, PRUITT, OF PEARSALL, TEXAS.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

"SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,030, dated November 14, 1899. Application filed March 11, 1898- Renewed October 21, 1899. Serial No. 784,405. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ANDREW L. PRUITT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bearsa11,in the county of Frio and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Vehicle- Wheel, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in vehicle-wheels. I

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of vehicle-wheels, more especially the means for supporting and bracing the spokes, and to provide a simple and comparativelyinexpensiv'e device adapted to be readily applied to new or old wheels and capable of supporting and straightening the spokes and of preventing the same from becoming loose or the wheel becoming dished.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a wheel provided with bracing devices constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken longitudinally of the hub. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of awheel provided with single braces. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the braces and illustrating the manner of connecting the. same with the hub and with the rings or plates. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing another form of brace..

Like numerals of reference designate correspondin g parts in the figures of the drawings.

1 designates a series of bracing-rods disposed longitudinally of a hub 2 and connected at their terminals to end bands 3 and 4E, mounted upon the hub at the ends thereof in the usual manner. The bracing-rods, which are slightly bowed to offset them from the hub, extend between each pair of spokes and are threaded at 5, adjacent to the same, and receive nuts 6, which are adapted to engage plates 7 and force the same against the spokes. The plates 7, which are arranged at rods.

curved to conform to the configuration of the hub and rest upon the same, forming supports for the braces and cooperating with the same to provide a truss connection, and the said plates may, if desired, be continuous and in the form of aring at each side of the spokes.

The nuts which engage the outer face of the plates are adapted to be screwed tightly against the same to support or straighten the spokes, and when the braces are applied to them they cannot become loose and the wheel is prevented from becoming dished. By maintaining the spokes in their proper positionthe tire is prevented from becoming loose and the wheel is caused to run true at all times.

The terminals of the braces are provided with eyes 9, which receive fastening devices 10 of the'end bands, and these fastening devices may be constructed of any suitable metal.

Instead of running the bracing-rods the en tire length of the hub they may, as illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5, inclusive, extend from one end of the hub to the spokes at either side of the same, and the inner and outer plates which embrace the spokes may be continuous or in the form of springs.

The single braces 11 (shown in Figs. 3 and 4) extend from-the enlarged or inner end of the hub to circular plates or rings 12 and 13, arranged on the inner and outer faces of the spokes and separated from the hub by an intervening space. The inner portions of the braces are disposed at an angle to the outer portions, the braces being substantially L- shaped, as shown, and the inner ends 14 are provided with perforations and are detachably interlocked with studs 15 of a band 16, mounted on the inner end ofthe hub. Each brace is provided with a rod 17 extending through perforations of the plates and provided at its outer end with a head engaging the outer face with the outer plate, a nut 18 being interposed between the inner plate and the body portion of the brace. The brace, which has a tubular outer portion to receive the rod, may be interiorly threaded, as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawings, to engage the rod, or it may have a smooth bore or opening with a recess 19 at the inner end thereof to receive a nut 20 for en- ICO gaging the rod, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The studs of the band are provided with grooves to receive the perforated ends of the braces, whereby the latter are interlocked with the band and are prevented from becoming disengaged from the studs. By adjusting the braces the spokes may be readily tightened and the dish may be readily taken out of a wheel.

In Fig. 5 the single brace 22, which is interiorly threaded to receive the rod, is preferably formed integral with the end band.

The invention has the following advantages: The braces are applicable to all kinds of Vehicle-wheels and are simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction and capable of being applied to wheels during their manufacture or after the same have become worn and loose. The device is adapted to straighten the spokes, support the same, and prevent a wheel from becoming dished or the tire from becoming loose through any looseness of the spokes. By locating the plates at opposite sides of each pair of spokes and arranging the nuts at the outer faces of the plates the spokes maybe forced in cit-her direction to the desired extent.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

What I claim is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a hub, and spokes, of plates located at opposite sides of the spokes, a bracing-rod extending from an end of the hub and passing through the plates at a point between the spokes, said rod being threaded adjacent to the plates, and nuts mounted on the rod at the outer. faces of the plates, whereby the spokes are forced in either direction, substan-- tially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a hub, and spokes, of end bands mounted on the hub, plates located at opposite sides of the spokes, a bracing-rod extending through the plates at a point between the spokes and having its terminals secured to the end bands, said bracingrod being threaded adjacent to the plates, and nuts mounted on the bracing-rod and engaging the outer faces of the plates, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination with a hub, and spokes, of plates located at intervals, arranged in pairs at the sides of the spokes and engaging each pair of the same, bracing-rods connected with the hub and extending through the plates at points between the spokes, said bracing-rods being threaded adjacent to the plates, and nuts mounted on the rods and engaging the outer faces of said plates, substantially as described.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a wheel, of an end band mounted on the hub, braces secured to the 

